Harpers Ferry home damaged in morning fire

HARPERS FERRY – A fire caused approximately $250,000 in damages to a two-story, single-family dwelling in Harpers Ferry Sunday, said Friendship Fire Co. Chief Donnie Dunn, who was the first responding officer to arrive at the scene.

The house at 298 Union St. was vacant at the time of the fire, which responders were dispatched to at 11:22 a.m., Dunn said.

According to Independent Fire Co. Chief Donnie Lanham, responders on scene cut into the roof to fight the fire, which was under control by noon.

“We had a truck from Shepherdstown perform what we call vertical ventilation, so they cut two vent holes in the roof to allow the gases and heat to dissipate,” said Lanham, who commanded the scene.

The cause of the fire, Dunn said, is unknown.

“Crews found fire in the back portion of the house from the first floor up through the second floor and into the attic,” Lanham said.